“For our city, being about 8 square miles and adjacent to a large metropolitan area such as Birmingham, I think ride share is going to be very successful,” Thames said.

But Thames said he knows companies like Uber won’t come to the area unless they can operate in the city limits of Birmingham.

Under Birmingham’s current transportation code, ride-sharing companies are not allowed to operate in the city. But right now, a new transportation code is before the Birmingham City Council awaiting a vote.

Neighboring cities don’t seem to be waiting for Birmingham to take action.

Last month, the Mountain Brook city council took the lead and passed its own ride sharing ordinance. In Hoover, city leaders have shown interest in recent months, but have not passed an ordinance. Now Homewood is raising the issue of a ride-sharing ordinance.

Thames said he thinks Homewood would benefit from companies like Uber, especially with parking in the downtown area.

"You can imagine if just 10 or so people take a ride share service to come shop and eat in downtown Homewood, that's 10 or 20 parking spaces that someone else could use that we currently don't have,” Thames said.

Thames said the Public Safety Committee is expected to vote on the ordinance Monday, Dec. 14. If it passes, the ordinance could go for a vote before the Homewood City Council Dec. 21.